Article carrier and blank therefor
Aspects of the disclosure relate to a package, an article carrier for packaging one or more articles and a blank for forming the carrier. The article carrier 90; 290 comprises a pair of spaced panels including a cover panel 18/20; 118/120; 254 and an engaging panel 12; 112; 212 . A male locking tab 80; 180; 280; 380; 480; 580; 680; 580 formed from the cover panel 18/20; 118/120; 254 connects the cover panel 18/20; 118/120; 254 with the engaging panel 12; 112; 212 . The locking tab 80; 180; 280; 380; 480; 580; 680; 580 is hingedly connected to the cover panel 18/20; 118/120; 254 along a fold line 81; 181; 281; 381; 481; 581 . The fold line 81; 181; 281; 381; 481; 581 lies upon a notional line n-n which extends obliquely with respect to at least one of an end edge M 1 , M 2 and a side edge 19; 119 of the cover panel 18/20; 118/120; 254.
1 . An article carrier for engaging at least one article, the article carrier comprising spaced apart panels including an upper panel and a lower panel, the article carrier comprising a locking tab formed from the upper panel, the locking tab providing a retaining device securing the upper panel in a locked position above the lower panel, wherein at least a portion of the locking tab is disposed between the upper panel and the lower panel to maintain a spacing therebetween, wherein the locking tab comprises an edge portion configured to engage with an edge defined by an opening in the lower panel to retain the upper panel in the locked position.
2 . An article carrier, according to claim 1 , wherein the locking tab protrudes downward through the opening in the lower panel such that the edge portion of the locking tab engages the perimeter of the opening in the lower panel.
3 . An article carrier, according to claim 1 , wherein the upper panel comprises a composite cover panel formed from an upper covering flap and a lower covering flap, the upper covering flap and the lower covering flap at least partially overlapping, wherein the upper covering flap comprises the locking tab and the lower covering flap comprises an opening defined by one or more female tabs.
4 . An article carrier, according to claim 3 , wherein the locking tab engages with at least one of the female tabs.
5 . An article carrier, according to claim 4 , wherein at least one of the female tabs protrudes downward through an opening in the lower panel.
6 . An article carrier, according to claim 4 , wherein the locking tab engages a perimeter of an opening in the lower panel and engages a recessed portion of at least one of the female tabs.
7 . An article carrier, according to claim 3 , wherein at least a portion of the one or more female tabs is disposed between the upper panel and the lower panel to maintain a spacing therebetween.
8 . An article carrier, according to claim 1 , wherein the locking tab comprises one or more separation elements defining an engaging edge of the edge portion, the engaging edge being arranged to engage a first surface of the lower panel.
9 . An article carrier, according to claim 8 , wherein the one or more separation elements define a support edge of a wing portion, the support edge being arranged to engage a second surface of the lower panel, the second surface of the lower panel opposes the first surface of the lower panel.
10 . An article carrier, according to claim 1 , wherein the locking tab is obliquely oriented with respect to the upper and lower panels.
11 . An article carrier, according to claim 1 , wherein the upper panel comprises a composite cover panel formed from an upper covering flap and a lower covering flap, the upper covering flap and the lower covering flap at least partially overlapping, wherein the upper covering flap comprises a first male locking tab and the lower covering flap comprises an opening defined by a second male locking tab.
12 . An article carrier for engaging at least one article, the article carrier comprising a tubular structure formed in part by a cover panel, an engaging panel, and opposed side panels, wherein the carrier comprises an end closure structure for forming a beam structure along at least one end of the tubular structure, wherein the end closure structure comprising end panel hingedly connected to the engaging panel, and an end flap hingedly connected to the end panel; at least one anchor flap hingedly connected to the cover panel and disposed in face contacting relationship with both the cover panel and the end flap.
13 . An article carrier according to claim 12 , wherein the cover panel comprises a first top panel and wherein the article carrier further comprises:
a first end flap hingedly connected to the first top panel and a second end flap hingedly connected to the engaging panel, and
a gusset, provided by a pair of hinged panels, that connects between the first end flap and the second end flap.
14 . An article carrier, according to claim 13 , wherein the pair of hinged panels is hingedly connected to a first portion of the second end flap arranged substantially parallel to the first top panel.
15 . An article carrier, according to claim 14 , wherein the first portion of the second end flap is hingedly connected to a second portion of the second end flap, the second portion of the second end flap extending between the first top panel and the engaging panel.
16 . An article carrier according to claim 1 wherein the spaced apart panels include a cover panel as the upper panel and an engaging panel as the lower panel, the locking tab comprising a male locking tab, formed from the cover panel, for connecting the cover panel with the engaging panel, wherein the locking tab is hingedly connected to the cover panel along a notional fold line which extends obliquely with respect to at least one of an end edge and a side edge of the cover panel.
17 . A blank for forming an article carrier, the blank comprising a pair of panels arranged to be spaced apart in a setup carrier, the pair of panels including an upper panel and a lower panel, the blank comprising a locking tab formed from the upper panel, the locking tab providing a retaining device for securing the upper panel in position above the lower panel in a locked position, wherein at least a portion of the locking tab is disposed between the upper panel and the lower panel to maintain a spacing therebetween in the locked position, wherein the upper panel comprises a composite cover panel, the composite cover panel comprising a first cover panel and a second cover panel configured to at least partially overlap when formed, wherein the locking tab is formed in the first cover panel and the second cover panel comprises an opening formed therein and the opening is configured to receive the locking tab therethrough.
18 . A blank according to claim 17 , wherein the lower panel comprises an engaging panel arranged to be spaced apart from the upper panel in the setup carrier, wherein the locking tab is hingedly connected to the upper panel along a notional fold line which extends obliquely with respect to at least one of an end edge and a side edge of the upper panel.
19 . A blank according to claim 17 , wherein the locking tab is hingedly connected to the upper panel, and wherein the locking tab comprises an edge portion shaped to engage with at least one of an edge of an aperture formed in the lower panel and an edge of an aperture formed in a cover panel to retain the upper panel in the locked position.
20 . An article carrier according to claim 1 further comprising a handle structure formed in part from the upper panel and in part from the lower panel, the handle structure comprising a cushioning flap, formed from the upper panel and folded into a gap between the upper and lower panels, wherein the cushioning flap provides the locking tab.
21 . An article carrier according to claim 12 wherein the engaging panel having at least one aperture and the end flap is disposed over the at least one aperture.